Ethiopia
Improving the well-being and dignity of those with special needs, including older persons and individuals with disabilities, in Ethiopia.
In Gambella, a region in southeastern Ethiopia, 381,660 refugees from South Sudan are sheltered across seven camps. Among this large population of refugees, 83% of Gambella’s population over the age of 60 has specific needs. In January 2020, HelpAge conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment in Gambella, which highlighted key concerns: older people with specific needs in Ethiopia have very limited access to food, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation.
Improving the well-being and dignity of those with special needs, including older persons and individuals with disabilities, in Ethiopia.
In Gambella, a region in southeastern Ethiopia, 381,660 refugees from South Sudan are sheltered across seven camps. Among this large population of refugees, 83% of Gambella’s population over the age of 60 has specific needs. In January 2020, HelpAge conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment in Gambella, which highlighted key concerns: older people with specific needs in Ethiopia have very limited access to food, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation.
23.6%
Of the population aged 60 and over in Ethiopia live below the poverty line
92.2%
Of the population in the Gambella region of Ethiopia are South Sudanese refugees
In partnership with HelpAge International and Global Affairs Canada, HelpAge Canada is providing a tailored and integrated response to address the health, nutrition, protection, and inclusion needs of older people and people with disabilities in the Gambella region of Ethiopia.
HelpAge has been operating in Ethiopia for over 20 years, implementing age and gender sensitive humanitarian programs responding to conflict and climate change induced humanitarian crises as well as promoting the rights of older people and empowering them to advocate for their rights at local and national level.
From 2021-2022, HelpAge and Global Affairs Canada made the following impact in the Gambella region:
- Health services – we reached 27,719 persons with specific needs (PSNs) to provide health services such as home-based care support for people who are bedridden, eye health care, non-communicable disease awareness, non-communicable disease screening, COVID-19 care, rehabilitation services, and awareness of topic such as SRH and HIV/AIDS.
- Nutrition – we provided 3,103 older people with monthly nutrition screening, fresh food support, healthcare referrals for those with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and rehabilitation for those with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
- Protection and inclusion – we helped partners build capacity among staff and volunteers, and provided 24,208 people with protection services for the most vulnerable groups and community-based psychosocial support. We also strengthened the inclusion of older people by talking with them about isolation, loneliness, financial insecurity, and more, and training 51 key staff on the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for older people and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Increasing community-based support and protection for internally displaced older people in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State
Violence in Benishangul-Gumuz region has left over 500,000 people internally displaced
Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State is one of the 10 regional states in Ethiopia, located in the western part of the country bordering Amhara Region in the north, Oromia Region in the north-east, Gambella region in the south and south-east, and Sudan in the west. The socio-economic impact of regional conflict in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in the region, particularly for people that were already at risk or marginalized.
According to the Benishangul-Gumuz Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs, there are 6,623 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the region as of 2021 – over half of whom are women. The Benishangul Gumuz Region is among the conflict-affected areas where 365,797 internally displaced persons (IDPs) live, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Management Bureau.
In partnership with Global Affairs Canada, HelpAge is safeguarding the protection of internally displaced persons, refugees and host communities through community-based support mechanisms and enhanced awareness on specific protection of people at risk, including older people, people with disabilities, and persons with special needs (PSNs) from life-threatening risks. The project will benefit 32,219 individuals, 70% of whom are internally displaced persons who have experienced the effects of the conflict.
Stories from older people in Ethiopia
Nyakoak Wie Yat, 73, Ngunyyiel Refugee Camp
“I was bedridden when we left South Sudan, so when the war broke out, my son carried me to a town and we traveled in a vehicle to Gambella. Our journey was very exhausting.
I got the opportunity to join a HelpAge programme, and thanks to HelpAge, I’ve received a wheelchair, bed linens, and a latrine. The staff also built parallel bars to help me get stronger. I’m so thankful for everyone who’s supported me. I’ve seen a huge difference in my life, and I’m happier now.”
John Jock, 75, Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp
“When the civil war in Sudan reached my hometown in 2006, my three children were attacked by field mines. Three of them died instantly and one sustained injury in his eyes. He later lost one of his eyes. I fled the area with my wife and son as the fighting intensified unimaginably into our village.
I got training from HelpAge that significantly supported me to start a small shop here in the refugee camp. I collected trees and built a small shop by myself. Now I sell biscuits and charcoal to my customers in this camp. Many people come to my small shop to buy charcoal to cook their food. In the future, I have a plan to bring in other items to my shop for sale.”
Nyachan Rauch, 67, Jewi Refugee Camp
“Since 2014, Jewi Refugee Camp has been my family’s home. I visit the HelpAge center in the camp with my friends, and we share a lot of our life experiences and socialize. Eventually, I joined the camp’s Older People’s Association (OPA), where I learned a lot about the rights of the older people, and now I’m the Deputy Chair of the OPA in Jewi Refugee Camp. I regularly visit older people in the camp who are bedridden to ensure they are getting what they need, and I also lead camp-based advocacy campaigns to raise awareness on the rights of the older people.
When I fled my hometown, I didn’t imagine finding a stable life elsewhere. But now, I am so glad that I am doing good with my life at this age. My children have hope for the future.”
With special thanks to our partners
HelpAge Canada is proud to improve the lives of older people in Ethiopia in partnership with the Government of Canada.
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